Final Score: Islanders 5 – Blue Jackets 2
Game Summary
Well that was not a good game to say the least. The Jackets came out slow and couldn’t seem to find their legs as they lost to the Islanders 5-2.
The first period set the tone for the whole game. The Jackets spent most of that period in their own end getting out shot 17-5. They were quite lucky to come out of it down just 2-1. Jack Johnson made the first goal happen. He made a great play in the defensive zone, carried the puck into the offensive zone ripped a shot that Isles goalie Thomas Greiss could only slow down before William Karlsson tapped it into the empty net.
Johnson’s partner David Savard also got into the action scoring his first goal of the season. It was an up and down game for Savard. He scored the goal which was great but he did not look good on the Islanders third goal, turning the puck over in the neutral zone. He also had just a 44% Corsi which while poor was not the worst among the defencemen.
That would go to the pair of Ryan Murray and Seth Jones. When you watch these two its clear the ability that they have, but occasionally they are going to have nights like this. Murray finished with a 20.83% Corsi and Jones was not much better at 29.17%. This is part of the development for these players. These are the games where they can take a lot out of as they keep improving.
The power play was an issue tonight going 0/6. This is an area that did not get mentioned much with the trade of Ryan Johansen. He was a huge part of this teams power play and that’s a spot where Jones really can’t pick up the slack.
#CBJ PP 0/6 tonight, and 1/13 since 19 was traded. Major short term effect of trade was his PP impact. Dearly missed.
— Mark Scheig (@THWMark) January 13, 2016Today the Blue Jackets placed Kevin Connauton on waivers. I doubt he gets claimed but if he does, this is poor asset management by the Jackets. Connauton is clearly a much better player than both Justin Falk and Dalton Prout. I can understand keeping Prout since he is a right shot, but Falk is curious. He’s essentially just a big body that throws big hits.
Stat of the Night
Stats courtesy of HockeyStats.ca and War On Ice.
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